12.30.2010

A few years ago, at a school potluck, a coworker named Jan made these beans and gave us the recipe. She called them "Settler's Beans" and when we looked this up online, there are quite a few versions of a recipe called "Old Settler's Beans." We aren't sure why they are called this. What we are sure of, however, is that they were a big hit at our Christmas Eve party and we promised to share our version, so here it is. They are more like chili than baked beans, with sweet, spicy and smoky flavors. This recipe makes about 14 one-cup servings.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 lb. bacon, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

1 medium onion, diced

1 28-ounce can country style baked beans

1 15.5-ounce can light red beans

1 15.5-ounce can dark red beans

1 15.5-ounce can black beans

1 15.5-ounce can canellini beans

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup white sugar

1/4 cup ketchup

1/4 cup BBQ sauce

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 tablespoon ground mustard

2 tablespoons molasses

black pepper to taste

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef, bacon and onion together. Drain the fat. In a large oven-proof baking dish (we used our beanpot), combine all the beans including the liquid. Stir the meat mixture into the beans. Add all the remaining ingredients and stir well. Cover the baking dish and bake at 350 for one hour.

Note: To make ahead, do not bake. Instead, allow the mixture to cool, then refrigerate overnight. Bake when ready to serve.

12.22.2010

Besides truffles, fudge is another "must do" Christmas candy. A Couple in the Christmas Candy Kitchen found a recipe for "candy bar fudge," made with Snickers Bars. We made a couple of minor adaptations and were quite pleased with the result: smooth, chocolatey fudge with a nutty nougat center, much like the Snickers Bar itself. You can find the original here, while ours is below.

Ingredients:

1 bag (11.18-ounces) of Snickers Fun-Size Snacks

3 cups granulated sugar

1 1/2 sticks salted butter, plus enough to butter the pan

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1 12-ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 7-ounce jar marshmallow creme

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Line a 9X13 rectangular cake pan with foil. Butter the foil and set pan aside. Cut candy bars into 1/2-inch slices and set aside. In a heavy saucepan, bring sugar, butter and evaporated milk to a boil over medium heat. Insert a candy thermometer into the pan and stir mixture until thermometer reaches 234 degrees F. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips, marshmallow creme and vanilla until smooth. Pour half of the mixture into prepared pan. Cover with a layer of Snickers Bar slices. Top with remaining chocolate mixture and spread evenly. Let stand at room temperature to cool. Lift out of pan and remove foil. Cut into squares of desired size. Makes about 7 dozen pieces, depending on cut size.

Truffles: the ultimate chocolate treat. A Couple in the Christmas Candy Kitchen had to make truffles, and since we love the idea of cooking with tea and have many tea aficionados in our lives, we created the Earl Grey Truffle. Earl Grey is a black tea infused with the flavor and aroma of bergamot, a citrus fruit, one of Amy's favorite scents. This is a tea lover's dream - smooth, creamy chocolate with just a hint of Earl Grey.

Ingredients:

2/3 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

3 teaspoons loose Earl Grey tea leaves

6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

In a small heavy saucepan, bring cream and butter just to boil. Stir in tea leaves, then remove from heat. Allow the tea to steep in the cream for at least five minutes, up to ten minutes. Place the chocolate chips in a separate heavy saucepan. Pour the cream through a fine-mesh sieve onto the chocolate chips. Whisk until mixture is a smooth ganache. Refrigerate until firm, about an hour. Mix the cocoa and confectioner's sugar together in a small bowl. Dust palms lightly with cocoa/sugar mixture and roll teaspoon-sized balls of ganache in your hards, washing and re-coating hands as needed. Dust with additional cocoa/sugar as desired. Store in an airtight container between sheets of waxed paper in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Makes about 3 dozen truffles.

12.21.2010

Wondering what to do with the leftover chocolate you had after making those Buckeyes? Can't let good chocolate go to waste! Our suggestion is the latest in A Couple in the Christmas Candy Kitchen's holiday recipes. However, #5 isn't a recipe at all, just a suggestion. We bought Trader Joe's Fleur de Sel Caramels and they are delicious. But aren't most things even more delicious when they are dipped in chocolate? We dipped only half and loved how they look. What do you think?

Buckeyes, aka Peanut Butter Balls are the fourth candy recipe from A Couple in the Christmas Candy Kitchen. They are known as "buckeyes" because when finished, they resemble the nut of a buckeye tree. We love this recipe because there isn't a lot of measuring involved. Also they're smooth and creamy, and, well...peanut butter and chocolate. Enough said.

Line baking sheets with wax paper. In standing mixer, beat peanut butter and butter until creamy. Slowly add the powdered sugar and beat until mixture is moist and holds together. Using your hands, roll into 1-inch balls and place on baking sheets. Freeze for one hour until hardened. Place the chocolate chips and shortening in a heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring until melted. Using a toothpick, dip the peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate leaving the top center uncovered. Return to lined baking sheets and refrigerate until set. Store in an airtight container between sheets of waxed paper for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Thethird offering from A Couple in the Christmas Candy Kitchen comes from a booklet by Bear Wallow Books called Old-Fashioned Candy Recipes. They call it Molasses Skillet Taffy, butBurnt Molasses Candy might be a better name. This is not for everyone - the flavor is strong and distinct. If you like the taste of burnt sugar, you may like this, but in very small doses. The color makes it a good "coal for the naughty" gift.

Ingredients:

2 cups molasses

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 tablespoon salted butter

Combine ingredients in a large cast iron skillet. Bring to a boil. Continue cooking (stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon) until mixture reaches 310 F on a candy thermometer. Pour mixture into a greased cake pan and refrigerate. When hardened, break into very small pieces.

12.20.2010

A Couple in the Christmas Candy Kitchen's second Christmas candy is a favorite with coworkers, neighbors and friends who request it every year - it's Rum Balls. (And right now, we're giggling thinking of the "Schwetty Balls" Saturday Night Live skit, and we hope you are too). It's very easy and makes about six dozen candies. We usually use regular white rum, but spiced or dark rum, or even bourbon offer a darker, deeper flavor that we've enjoyed in the past. A dusting of confectionary sugar over the top offers the illusion of newly fallen snow.

Ingredients:

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 tablespoons light corn syrup

3/4 cup rum

2 1/2 cup vanilla wafer crumbs

confectionary sugar for dusting

In a heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in sugar and corn syrup. Stir in rum, then add vanilla wafer crumbs and mix well. Cover and cool in refrigerator until mixture is hard enough to roll into balls. Line a baking sheet with wax paper, and using your hands, roll into 1/2-inch balls and place onto wax paper. Dust with confectionary sugar. Store in an airtight container between sheets of waxed paper for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

12.19.2010

It's the weekend before Christmas and all through the house, every creature is stirring...the skillet, that is! It was the weekend of A Couple in the Christmas Candy Kitchen. We're not great bakers, so we rely on the kindness of friends, relatives, neighbors and students for our supply of Christmas cookies. In return, we made a Christmas Candy variety, which we'll also share with you.

Other than some minor adjustments and adaptations, we can't take credit for any of these recipes ourselves. In fact, we don't know where some of them came from - they are just tradition. But we'll share nonetheless in the hopes that people will be forgiving ('tis the season, after all). Special thanks to our weekend visitors Pat and Becky for taste-testing and nut-cracking.

Our first recipe is for Holiday Divinity, which we found in The Christmas Candy Book by Lou Seibert Pappas. Divinity is a sweet, airy egg-white-based candy made with fruit and nuts (we chose Craisins and pistachios for a seasonal color scheme). This (slightly adapted) recipe makes about 4 dozen candies and is a wonderful choice for Christmas sharing.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup light corn syrup

2 egg whites, at room temperature

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 cup roasted pistachio nutmeats, chopped

3/4 cup dried cranberries (Craisins), chopped

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, water and corn syrup, and stir to blend. Place over medium heat and bring to a rolling boil. Cover and boil 2 to 3 minutes. Uncover and insert a candy thermometer ni the pan. Cook, without stirring, until the temperature reaches 256 F. Meanwhile, using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and beat the whites until they hold firm, upright peaks. Reduce the mixer speed to medium and carefully pour the hot syrup into the egg whites, continuing to beat until the mixture cools to room temperature and is very stiff, 7-10 minutes. Blend in the vanilla extract, then fold in the nuts and craisins. Drop the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet using a melon baller. Let stand until set, about one hour. Carefully remove the candies from the paper. Store in an airtight container between sheets of waxed paper for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

12.15.2010

While it's true that there isn't much "gourmet" about mom's chuck roast, it's also true that on long, cold wintery weekdays when we just want to get something in the oven to make the house smell good, this is a go-to dish. With a prep time of, oh, about two minutes, this roast is an easy, delicious, belly-warming meal that reminds us of home. Perfect for a stress-filled workday or a Sunday dinner. Could we fancy it up a bit? We're sure...but we choose not to mess with the original, which is wonderfully comforting. We like it best with mashed potatoes and canned (that's right) baby peas. Judge us all you want.

Ingredients:

1 2-to-3-pound boneless chuck roast

1 packet dry onion soup mix

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can water

Place the roast in a foil-lined roasting pan. Sprinkle the meat with the onion soup mix. Pour in the cream of mushroom soup. Fill the can with water and pour that in as well. Seal the meat inside the foil and roast at 325 for 2-2 1/2 hours. Remove from pan and allow to rest. Pour the remaining liquid into a gravy bowl and serve with mashed potatoes.

12.09.2010

Last weekend, my fellow foodie friend Joanne and I took our annual overnight trip to Boston. Every year around the holidays, we put in for our single personal day of the year, attach it to a weekend, and enjoy two glorious days in Beantown. We shop, we drink, and of course, we eat. In fact, eating is usually the whole point of our jaunt, and this year, we happened to visit two restaurants that share one executive chef, Jeremy Sewall.

We enjoyed Sunday brunch at Lineage in Coolidge Corner, Brookline. Lineage is owned by Chef Sewall and his pastry chef wife, Lisa. While sparsely decorated with a sophisticated and modern feel, the restaurant is warm and welcoming. The menu is printed daily and the focus is on seasonality. Here are some photos from our fabulous brunch which was accompanied by screwdrivers made with freshly squeezed orange juice and (relatively) local Ice Glen vodka from Berkshire Mountain Distillers. It was the perfect start to our trip.

Fish and chips made with halibut

Poached egg over Anson Mills polenta with spinach and bacon lardons

We chose Eastern Standard in Kenmore Square for a late lunch the following day. By chance, Chef Jeremy Sewall is the "Colaborating Executive Chef" at this gorgeous, high-ceilinged, spacious restaurant. The menu is a tribute to New England with plenty of seafood, comfort foods, and seasonal items. The food was as elegant as the space, and certainly deserving of all the accolades it has been getting. Again, let's allow the photos to do the talking.

Both Joanne and I agree that both of these restaurants are worthy of further exploration and we'd highly recommend either of them to friends and family (and readers!) alike. The food at both is spectacular, and had us talking (and thinking) about it for days on end. A trip to Boston could only be enhanced by a stop to one of talented Chef Sewall's eateries.

12.08.2010

Another busy week has prevented us from doing what we love to do...cook! So, as the cookie swaps and soirees begin, we thought we'd take a moment to recall two of our favorite recipes-for-holiday-sharing from years past. One is an appetizer, and the other is a dessert, but both result in delectable tidbits that are easy to make and well-suited to disaster-free transport.

We came up with "Spruced-Up Sugar Cookies" last year when we had a bumper crop of rosemary. We use refrigerated cookie dough to make them quick and easy to make, but the more ambitious cook with the time could use their favorite sugar cookie recipe. To the cookie dough, we add some lemon zest, lemon juice and chopped rosemary for a seasonal, "spruced-up" symphony of flavors - sweet sugar cookies with citrus and herb notes. Cookie cutters we'd suggest? Stars or Christmas trees! Go here for the recipe.

We also cheat a little with our appetizer idea - using a cream cheese spread from Denmark called "Puck" to fill pre-made mini-phyllo cups. Warmed in the oven, and topped with a pinch of chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, pistachios - all would work!) and a drizzle of honey and you have a bite-sized snack that is simply elegant. Perfect for that cocktail party! Go here for more information.

12.07.2010

This meal is one we made from several different pairings of four basic ingredients. Those ingredients are: sea scallops, pancetta (Italian bacon), onion and apple cider. Each ingredient can easily be paired with another for a perfect, common, flavor combination: scallops and bacon; bacon and onions; apple and onions; you get the idea. So how can a cook go wrong by putting them all together?

We seared the scallops (perfectly, if we say so ourselves) by drying them well on a paper towel and putting them in a non-stick pan that has been pre-heated to super-hot (no oil!). The trick is to be patient and NOT to flip them until the pan is letting go. In other words, don't force the flip! If they are sticking, they are not perfectly seared. We sprinkled them with a pinch of pink salt and served them with this risotto that was seasonal and delicious.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

3 ounces diced pancetta

1 cup arborio rice

2 cups apple cider

2 cups water

salt to taste

Pour the apple cider and water into medium saucepan and set over medium-low heat. In a large skillet, heat the oil and saute the onion and pancetta together until they start to caramelize. Add the rice and stir until it begins to toast. Slowly add the cider/water liquid to the rice mixture, one ladle at a time, stirring well and adding more liquid only when the rice soaks up most of what is already in the skillet. Continue this process, stirring constantly, until the apple cider/water mixture is gone and rice is tender. Serve with seared scallops or your choice of protein.

12.02.2010

Did we not get enough roasted poultry last week? Apparently not, because Tuesday night came and we found ourselves picking up a rotisserie chicken at our local supermarket. It was a "Superbird" which meant plenty of leftovers, and since we already did the pot pie thing with the turkey, it was time for something new and different. A recent purchase of the never-before-seen College Inn Culinary Broth Thai Coconut Curry was inspiration, and basis, for this colorful and delicious soup. The warm spiciness of the curry makes it the perfect soup for a cold winter's night, and an excellent use of leftover chicken!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup chopped onion

2 carrots, cut into thin one-inch pieces

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 tablespoon red curry paste

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 32-ounce container College Inn Culinary Broth Thai Coconut Curry

2 cups chicken broth

1 15-ounce can coconut milk

1/2 tablespoon salt

4 ounces thin rice noodles, broken in half

1 1/2 - 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast meat

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 cup chopped cilantro

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic, curry paste and red pepper flakes, and cook, stirring, 2-3 minutes. Stir in the broth and coconut milk, season with salt, and bring to a boil. Lower heat and add the noodles and chicken. Simmer over low heat 5-6 minutes until chicken is warmed through and noodles are tender. Turn off heat, then add the lime juice and cilantro.